Koṭikāśya’s Inquiry to the Radiant Woman near the Kadamba (कोटिकाश्यप्रश्नः)
एवमुक्ते तु धर्मात्मा ज्येष्ठ: पाण्डुसुतस्तदा
evam ukte tu dharmātmā jyeṣṭhaḥ pāṇḍusutas tadā
Nang masabi ang mga salitang iyon, ang panganay na anak ni Pāṇḍu—may pusong matuwid—ay noon din (handa) nang tumugon.
दुर्योधन उवाच
The verse highlights dharma as an inner disposition: the eldest Pāṇḍava is identified first by moral character (dharmātmā) rather than power, suggesting that rightful response in conflict should be guided by ethical steadiness.
After Duryodhana has spoken, the narration turns to the eldest son of Pāṇḍu—implicitly Yudhiṣṭhira—marking the transition to his reaction or reply and framing it through his reputation for righteousness.